Delicatessen (1991)

Awards: Won European Film Award for Best Production Designer (1991) and Cesar for Best Editing, Best First Work, Best Production Design, and Best Writing (1992)

In a post-apocalyptic 1950’s France, food has become so scarce that people have resorted to dire means. Louison is an unemployed circus clown down on his luck until he finds an ad for a delicatessen looking for a handy man. In exchange for food and board, Louison is in charge of doing odd jobs for the delicatessen’s butcher, Clapet, and all the tenants who live in the building above the shop.. All is not what it seems, however, as Louison soon discovers that the previous handymen were fattened up by the butcher and ultimately became the “source” for new meat to feed the building’s tenants. Further complicating things, some of the tenants learn to like Louison, including Clapet’s daughter Julie, who even falls in love with the doomed man. Desperate to save him, Julie makes a deal with a group of subterranean dwellers/rebels who disavow meat (no, not vegetarian CHUDS!) to rescue him.

Shot prior to The City of Lost Children, Delicatessen shares the same great visual style and atmosphere. Filled with wonderful quirky characters, beautifully orchestrated scenes, and clever scenarios that all come together like a giant life-size version of the game Mousetrap. If you are in a mood for something dark and fun, then give Delicatessen a taste.

Other Notable Films by these Director’s:The City of Lost Children (1995)